WT/TPR/ 491 
18 January  2023 
(23-0391) Page: 1/2 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
  
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON  OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY  
JAPAN 
Arrangements for Review Meeting  
1. In pursuance of Article IV, paragraph 4 and Annex 3 of the WTO Agreement, a meeting of the 
Trade Policy Review Body is scheduled for 1 and 3 March 2023 to conduct the f ifteenth review of the 
trade policies and practices of Japan  (WTO/AIR/TPR/ 139). 
2. This communication sets out arrangements concerning the review meeting . In this connection, 
attention is also drawn to the procedures for the conduct of reviews contained in the rules of 
procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.4).  
3. Members' attentio n is drawn to Japan  use of the "alternative" time -frame for 
submission of written questions and responses.  
1  QUESTIONS IN WRITING IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING AND MAIN POINTS  
4. Members wishing to submit written questions to the Member under review should do so at 
least five weeks before the review meeting, to allow replies to be submitted one week prior to the 
first session of the meeting . For the forthcoming review, such questions should therefore be with 
the Trade Policies Review Division of the Secretariat (tprd@wto.org ) by 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday  
25 January  2023, at the latest . Delegations are informed that Japan  has opted for the traditional 
way of handling questions and answers.  
5. In accordance with the rules of procedure of  the Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.4, 
paragraph  17), Members are reminded that they should group their written questions into the 
following three categories so as to facilitate responses : those related to the Secretariat report (with 
a reference to relevant paragraph numbers) ; those concerning the Government report (with a 
reference to relevant paragraph numbers) ; and other questions.  
6. The Secretariat shall identify the main points contained in the questions submitted at least 
five weeks before a review meeting, post them on the Members' website one week before the 
meeting, and distribute a revised list of main points during the first session of a review when 
questions received after the five -week deadline give rise to significantly new is sues. The main points 
may be found on the Members' website under "Forthcoming Meetings : Documents for Meetings".  
2  ANSWERS IN WRITING BY THE MEMBER UNDER REVIEW  
7. Answers by the Member under review should be distributed in writing . Advance questions 
submitted by the five -week deadline before the start of the TPRB review should be 
answered in writing by the Member under review one week prior to the start of the 
meeting ( 22 February 20 23). Written answers will be made available on the Members' 
website f our working days prior to the meeting (23 February 202 3). Questions posed 
subsequently should be answered, to the extent possible, before the start of the second session of 
the meeting . Questions left unanswered at the end of the second session should be a nswered in WT/TPR/ 491 
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  writing no later than one month after the meeting with some latitude in the Chair's discretion for 
Members reviewing a very large number of questions.  
8. In the course of the discussions at the review meeting, the Member under review may indicate 
that it intends to provide supplementary information, in writing, on specific points raised . Upon 
receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members.  
3  DISCUSSANT  
9. In consultation with the Member under revie w, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review 
Body may choose a discussant who, in her/his personal capacity, will introduce the discussions in 
the Body . H.E. Mr. João AGUIAR MACHADO  (European Union ) will act as discussant for the review 
of Japan . 
4  STRUCTUR E OF THE MEETING  
10. Trade  policy reviews cover four broad headings:  
a. appreciation of the full range of the Member's trade policies and practices;  
b. relevant background : wider economic and developmental needs, including the external 
environment;  
c. impact of the Mem ber's trade policies and practices on the functioning of the multilateral 
trading system ; and 
d. general comments by way of assessment and evaluation.  
11. Meetings  take place in two sessions . The first session is devoted to the opening statements 
by the Member un der review and the discussant, and remarks and questions from the floor . The 
discussion in the second session, when the Member under review will reply to questions, is based 
on main themes identified after the opening meeting by the Chairperson, the discus sant and the 
Secretariat in consultation with the Member.  
12. As indicated  in the rules of procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.4, 
paragraph  21), the speakers list will follow the order in which questions are received by the 
Secretariat and,  in the event of more than one batch of questions, the final batch will determine the 
order of speakers . Delegations not submitting written questions will continue to speak second, in 
the order in which their flags are raised . On the day before each review meeting, the Secretariat will 
post on the WTO Members' website a provisional list of speakers for the first session of that meeting, 
for Members' advance information.  
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS  
13. Reports by the Member under review and the Se cretariat are contained in the following 
documents : 
WT/TPR/G/ 438 Report by Japan  
WT/TPR/S/ 438 Japan : Report by the Secretariat  
 
14. The press embargo for the review of Japan  will end at 2 p.m. Geneva time on  1 March 2023. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETING  
15. The record of th e meeting will be circulated as a draft to Members for comments on their own 
statements  and placed on the WTO website.  
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